Coccidiosis - Cattle

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Eimeria sp. of ruminants - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Coccidia oocyst from ruminant faeces - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
  • Many species affect cattle
  • Cattle under a year old are usually infected sporadically
  • 2-3 week prepatent period
  • Eimeria bovis
    • Endogenous stages in central lacteal of villi and epithelial cells of caecum and colon
    • Causes diarrhoea and enteritis
    • Oocysts are 28x20μm
    • Moderately pathogenic
  • Eimeria zuernii
    • Endogenous stages in connective tissue of lamina propria of the lower small intestine and in the epithelial cells of the caecum and colon
    • More pathogenic than Eimeria bovis
    • Causes blood stained dysentery, tenesmus and sloughed mucosa
    • Oocysts are spherical and measure 16μm
  • Mainly occurs in calves in poor conditions and bought-in calves
    • Also occurs in suckler calves turned out in spring
  • Eimeria alabamensis associated with diarrhoea in calves after spring turnout
  • Can be concurrent with cryptosporidium, viral and bacterial agents

Diagnosis

  • History, clinical signs, diarrhoea (often with blood) and a decrease in weight gain
  • Post-mortem
    • Diffuse inflammation and thickening of caecal mucosa (and sometimes ileal and colonic mucosa)
    • Masses of gamonts and oocysts in scrapings
  • High faecal oocyst count
    • However, healthy animals can pass millions of oocysts from mixed species infections which have no pathogenic significance
    • Animals may die before oocysts are shed

Control

  • Improve husbandry
    • Improve sanitation
    • Increase bedding
    • Raise food and water troughs to avoid faecal contamination
  • Preventative in-feed medication
    • E.g. Decoquinate
  • Injectable antiprotozoals may limit oocyst production but animals should still be moved to a clean environment
    • E.g. Sulphamethoxypyridazine